Harris and Walz reveal rural healthcare plan in pitch to Trump voters

Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has unveiled the Harris-Walz campaign’s plan to improve the lives of rural voters, as Vice President Kamala Harris seeks to erode former President Donald Trump’s strong support outside of major urban areas. 

The plan, which focuses on rural healthcare and economic priorities, aims to recruit 10,000 new healthcare professionals in rural and tribal regions via scholarships, loan forgiveness and grant programmes. 

Detailed by a senior campaign official ahead of its formal release, the strategy is part of a targeted effort to win over a historically Trump-leaning voting bloc just three weeks before Election Day. 

In the 2020 election, Trump carried rural voters by nearly a two-to-one margin. With the race expected to be closely contested, both Democrats and Republicans are aiming to sway voters beyond their traditional bases. 

Dressed in a flannel jacket and campaign cap, Walz announced the plan during a visit to rural Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, a key battleground in the battle for the Electoral College.

He is also featured in a new radio ad that promotes his small-town roots and criticises Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. The ad will air across more than 500 rural radio stations in swing states like Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. 

The Harris-Walz plan includes proposals to permanently extend telemedicine coverage under Medicare, support volunteer emergency medical response programmes, and reintroduce the Affordable Connectivity Program to reduce home internet costs.

It also advocates for legislation that would allow farmers to repair their own equipment — a key issue for many rural voters.